UK/US. William Grant & Sons and SPI Group have announced that their current contract for the importation, distribution and marketing of Stolichnaya Vodka in the US will not be renewed when it expires on 31 December 2013.
 |
Stolichnaya Vodka, the “crown jewel of the SPI Group” |
The decision is a result of SPI Group’s desire to manage its portfolio of brands directly; SPI Group will therefore be establishing its own importing company in the US during 2013, commencing operations on 1 January 2014.
“Stoli is a remarkable and storied vodka, the crown jewel of the SPI Group and the fastest growing premium vodka in the world,” said SPI Group CEO Val Mendeleev. “As a company with strong entrepreneurial spirit, the time has come for us to make our path forward on our own in the US. We are therefore delighted to announce that we will be creating our own importing company.
“We thank William Grant & Sons for their contributions to Stoli, we wish them well on their owned brands, and we look forward to what will be a continuing future of innovation and success for the Stolichnaya brand,” Mendeleev added.
William Grant & Sons assumed responsibility for the importation, distribution and marketing of the Stolichnaya brand – often referred to as Stoli – in January 2009. Despite a “very challenging economy and heavy competition within the spirits industry”, William Grant & Sons and the SPI team returned the brand to growth.
“Stoli is an excellent brand and we are proud of the many accomplishments William Grant & Sons has contributed to the success it has enjoyed, and for the part we have played in the history of this iconic brand,” stated William Grants & Sons President & Managing Director – North America Simon Hunt.
“We wish SPI Group the very best for the future of Stolichnaya. As for William Grant & Sons, our owned brands are enjoying unparalleled success, with growth in double digits on all of our core global brands. We are excited for the future and will now be focusing our attentions to continuing to grow those remarkable and celebrated brands,” he added.
